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52 Leadership Tips- #14

Perseverance

The dictionary definition of perseverance is, “To persist in an idea, purpose, or task despite obstacles (Webster’). Leaders above any other type of person will be confronted with every sort of obstacle that you can imagine. I believe a leader can be defined in these brief moments. Yes, in my opinion I believe that your leadership can be defined in a brief moment of an obstacle. How will you react? How will you guard your vision? Will you persevere?

When seized by a vision, great leaders never give up! They persevere until completion. Samuel Johnson writes, "Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance." This is much easier to write than to practice. I think that we all can look at many moments in our leadership journey and see the easy obstacles, where we stood strong and fought for our vision. But what about the difficult times. The times when the entire board was against the idea you felt called too? What about when the largest donor of your foundation or church disagrees with the decision at hand and is threatening to pull his funding. When everyone and everything is crashing down on you and in that moment of truth, that micro decision that can lead to macro impact... will you persevere?

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Leaders, you have been called to lead! And to lead you must persevere through the good and the bad, the up's and the down's. Do not grow weary and lose heart, stay focused on what you are called to do and do not back down. Pay close attention to the micro decisions that could have macro impact, your leadership might just be defined by them.